In the South-Tyrol region (Italy), 46 gasifiers are currently operating and €200,000 are annually paid to dispose of as a waste 1300 tons of char. Therefore, there is a considerable interest in finding alternatives for the valorization of this solid by-product. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of char as energy source and to compare two scenarios. The first scenario considers the possibility of exploiting char in a dedicated burner integrated in the gasification plant. The second scenario assumes that all the char is collected from South-Tyrol and co-fired with biomass in an existing combustion-ORC plant. An economic analysis was performed evaluating the discounted payback time and both scenarios were modeled using Aspen Plus®. The results reveal that substantial savings in the operating costs of the plants can be achieved. In the first scenario the owners of the gasification plants could save from 50% to 94% of the char disposal costs with a payback time ranging between 3 and 7 years. In the second scenario, the owner of the plant could save approximately €235 k per year with a payback time of approximately 7 years. The present study provides a basis for further techno-economic studies on char combustion. The results can be helpful for the owners of the gasification plants in determining the most cost-effective way to dispose char and to avoid disposing it of as a waste. Furthermore, it is demonstrated how char could be used as a renewable fuel, with better performance than raw biomass.

在南蒂罗尔地区（意大利），目前有46台气化炉正在运行，每年支付200,000欧元，将1300吨的木炭作为废物处理。因此，对于寻找替代这种固体副产物的增值方法有相当大的兴趣。这项工作的目的是评估炭作为能源的潜力，并比较两种情况。第一种情况考虑了在气化厂集成的专用燃烧器中利用焦炭的可能性。第二种情况假设所有焦炭均从南蒂罗尔（South-Tyrol）收集并在现有的燃烧ORC工厂中与生物质共燃。进行了经济分析，以评估折现的投资回收期，并使用AspenPlus®对这两种情况进行了建模。结果表明，可以大大节省工厂的运营成本。在第一种情况下，气化厂的所有者可以节省50％至94％的焦炭处置成本，投资回收期为3至7年。在第二种方案中，工厂的所有者每年可以节省约23.5万欧元，投资回收期约为7年。本研究为炭燃烧的进一步技术经济研究提供了基础。该结果对于气化厂的所有者确定处置碳的最经济有效的方式并避免将其作为废物进行处置很有帮助。此外，还证明了如何将炭用作可再生燃料，其性能要优于原始生物质。该工厂的所有者每年可以节省约23.5万欧元，投资回收期约为7年。本研究为炭燃烧的进一步技术经济研究提供了基础。该结果对于气化厂的所有者确定最经济的方式处理木炭并避免将其作为废物进行处理很有帮助。此外，还证明了如何将炭用作可再生燃料，其性能要优于原始生物质。该工厂的所有者每年可以节省约23.5万欧元，投资回收期约为7年。本研究为炭燃烧的进一步技术经济研究提供了基础。该结果对于气化厂的所有者确定最经济的方式处理木炭并避免将其作为废物进行处理很有帮助。此外，还证明了如何将炭用作可再生燃料，其性能要优于原始生物质。